Philippines; the Real Summer Escape
February 5th, 2011
Philippine archipelago offers diving tours cheap fare on the small islands which are connected with modern marine transport system. Here’s the story of Trinity explore two hidden paradise in the Philippines, Islands Calamian and Camiguin Island.
Somehow Philippines are less potential for tourist destinations by many people. If there has ever visited, most just stop in Manila. In fact, Manila is not able to represent the beauty of the Philippines. The country is composed of 7107 islands that almost all of them connected by advanced transportation systems and affordable fare. Local people commonly called “Pinoy” famous friendly, courteous, and easy to make friends.
This time, we explore on Calamian Islands. It is located 315 kilometers southwest of Manila. Islands area of 1753 square kilometers is composed of three main islands, namely Busuanga, Culion, and Coron. Travel was taken from NAIA 3 Airport Manila using propeller aircraft with a capacity of 72 passengers. Before flying, we were obliged to weigh in order to ensure the aircraft will not be overloaded. Fortunately weighing machines are now using digital systems, so that the workers do not have to shout my weight in public as ever.
Within an hour, the plane landed at the Busuanga airport. We went on a trip to Coron town via landline for 45 minutes. A small town located on the seafront has only one main road without traffic lights. Grocery stores, restaurants and karaoke bars lined up along the boulevard. While most of the inn built on the watery calm sea by adopting floating stage architecture of the house. After the survey the price, my choice finally fell on the package offered Coron Island hopping Gallery. Cost per person is only PHP650 it is about $15, inclusive of entrance fee and lunch. Much cheaper than hiring their own boat that spends 300 thousand, with no entrance fee and lunch.
As far as the eye looked there was only an overgrown stretch of blue sea, small cliff islands. The first agenda is to stop at the famous Lake of Heaven as the cleanest lakes throughout the Philippines. Reach very draining sweat. I had to climb dozens of wooden stairs on the precipice brittle. But all that physical chastisement was fully paid when we reached the top of the hill and watched a spectacular view of the bay. Reputation of the Heaven Lake was proved valid. The lake is surrounded by hills has a surface of blue water is as clear as to the yellow rocks at the bottom clearly visible.
The next activity was snorkeling in the Twin Peaks Reef and CYC located in the middle of the sea. After tired whipped waves, Banca finally reached the beach Atuwayan. We can immediately fill the stomach in a wooden hut with a menu of raw seaweed salad, grilled tuna, eggs, salt, and white rice.
To make it tastier, we can add hot sauce. Not content to enjoy the beauty of the Reef and CYC Twin Peaks, we can go to another heaven called Twin Lagoon, on the seafront double lake surrounded by limestone cliffs. Both are connected by an underwater tunnel that can only be passed by those who are able to swim as fast as fish. Turquoise-colored lake water temperature is cold enough. As she floats in the supine position, I was enjoying the scenery of towering cliff formations and green vegetation.